Dr.
Sam Sheppard stated that sometime in the middle of the night he was
awaken by
his wife Marilyn calling Sam, Sam. That he got up, thinking that it was
another
convulsion from which she had been suffering from since she had become
pregnant.
He went up stairs and at the head of the stairs he could see a form,
the upper
part of which was white, standing at the foot of the bed in the room in
which Marilyn
and he occupy. Marilyn was making little gurgling
noises. As he entered the room, he felt that he
must have been struck. The next thing he knew was that he was looking
at his
badge, which he carries in his wallet, that it was reflecting light
from some place.
He picked it up and stood up. He then looked at Marilyn and examined
her be taking her pulse at the throat. He was
stunned
and dazed but realized she was dead. He then went to Chip's room (Sam
Jr.) and
looked in at Chip. He didn't touch him but was aware that he was
alright.He heard a noise downstairs and
went down
entering into the living room. As he went towards the dining area he
saw a dark
form outlined by the door leading to the porch on the Lake
side of the house. He chased this form out of the house and down the
steps to
the beach. As this form, which was in dark clothing, and was taller
than he
with bushy hair seemed to slow down on the beach and wait for him he
came upon
it with intentions of "really letting him have it". The next thing he
knew he was wallowing in the surf with his face towards the beach.

He
got up and went upstairs to the house and on upstairs to Marilyn’s room
where
he looked at her and covered her a little with a sheet because it came
to him
that she was always modest and it wasn't right for her to be like she
was. He
then went downstairs and tried to think of who to call, Mayor Houk was
the only
number he could think of so he cal1ed him. He could not recall where he
was
when the Houks arrived. He could not stated if it was 1ight or dark
when this took
place but outside there was light from someplace, enough that he could
distinguish objects.

He was told that he was a suspect and that he would
have to explain many things. He could not explain about his "T" Shirt
or why his watch was found on the bankthe way it
was. He was asked to submit to a lie detector test which he refused
because of
his knowledge of it, and how it operated, that he would have a reaction
because
of his nearness to the tragedy.

This
interview lasted 3 ½ hours.

Interview at Sheriff's Office on July 10, 1954
(11:40 A.M.)

Sheriff's Office

County
of Cuyahoga

Dr.
Samuel H. Sheppard, you are now being questioned and
may be charged with the crime of Murder at a later date. The law gives
you the
right to make a statement if you so desire. Anything that you may say
here may
be used either for or against you at the time that you are brought to
trial in
court. Now that you understand these
facts, do you wish to make a statement telling us the truth about the
facts that
caused your questioning at this time?

A: Yes.

Q: Has any drug or medicine been administered to you
within the past twelve hours?

A: Just about twelve
hours ago I did have a grain and a
half of seconal which is a short acting barbiturate and should have no
effect
on me at this time.

Q: Is there any doubt in your mind but what you can sit
here and give us a true statement of what you know that occurred in
your house
on the night of July 3rd, 1954? At 28924 Lake Road, City of Bay
V1l1age, Ohio?

A: I feel that at this time I can tell all that I know.

Q:
Proceed

A: After having a difficult morning and early afternoon
at Day View Hospital where I am in charge of the accident room and
the head
of the Department of Neurosurgery, I made a couple of visits and then
proceeded
home. I arrived home at a time later than five o'clock, realizing this
because
I had hoped to work in the yard with my family and found that it was
too late
to do so. My wife informed me that we correction - that she had planned
to get
together with Mr. & Mrs.
Ahern that evening. We were to go to their home for a drink before
dinner and
then return to our home for dinner. We realized that there were a
couple of
business matters involving vouchers that we should record and we did
this
before leaving the house. We compared notes and my wife recorded the
material
on the Sheppard Clinic vouchers.We soon
thereafter went down to the Ahern's and drove our larger car as I
recall. The
Ahern's were both working in the yard with their children and we
instructed
them not to stop but to continue with their work as we chatted. My son
was
playing with youngsters in the yard. Mrs. Ahern insisted on going
inside
shortly thereafter and Mr. Ahern
instructed
his young son how to continue the lawn mowing with their power mower.
We
shortly went into their kitchen and some type of mixed drinks were
prepared.I am not absolutely clear
in regard to the
exact nature of this drink since we often have done this in the past
and I could
confuse one incident with another. Shortly thereafter, or after being
there for
a short time, I received a telephone call from the hospital in regard
to a youngster
that had broken his femur which is the thigh bone. I had received this
call as
a result of reporting their number to the hospital in regard to my
whereabouts.
The type of fracture was described to me and I decided that I had best
go to
the hospital and evaluate the situation. I asked Mrs. Ahern to find me
a clove so
that I could put this in my mouth and overcome any slight odor.I got into the car and proceeded to the
hospital where I examined the youngster and the X-rays that had been
taken.
This youngster, as I recall, was visiting here and lives in an area
near Youngstown.I believe it was the father with the youngster
but I am not absolutely sure. I explained that the youngster should be
treated
in the hospital and we hoped could soon be transported to the Youngstown
hospital which I attend in the capacity
of neuro-surgeon and traumatic surgeon. I then
got in my car and returned toward my home, passing
it since I did not see signs of the Ahern's, mywife and the children. So I returned
to the Ahern’s home. Mrs. Sheppard shortly left to start the dinner. I
and the
Ahern's followed soon thereafter. I believe the children went with us
but they may have run over
by themselves. I
really don't know. At our home Mr. Ahern and I chatted and the children
played
while the girls prepared dinner.The youngsters somehow evinced interest in
my
punching bag in the basement so I took them downstairs and placed a
bushel
basket under it so that they might reach the bag in order to hit it. I
spent a
moment or two with them showing them how it should be properly struck.
I recall
now that the children were fed in the kitchen before we ate. Shortly
thereafter
we four adults had dinner on the porch.It
was quite breezy, the wind coming from the north generally, it may have
been
northeast or northwest but since the porch was cool, sweaters and
jackets were
in order and I put on my brown corduroy jacket. The others I am not
sure of
what they wore. I remember that my wife had baked pie which is my
favorite
dessert. The other types of food I can't truly remember.

After we had completed a leisurely dinner, Mrs.
Ahern
made some mention of a movie but we recognized that it was too late to
attend a
movie so we kiddingly suggested the television movie. The girls must
have
cleaned up the dishes while Mr. Ahern and I went into the front room. I
am not
clear on anything from dinner to the time we watched television
together, but
the dishes were cleared up. I think Mr. Ahem took his children home am put them to bed and my youngster
must have been put to bed by my wife but I don't remember. Mrs. Ahern,
my wife
and I started to watch the television movie or program.I think it was a movie and as I recall now, Mr. Ahern sat over in the
northwest corner of the room, that's the side toward the Lake,
with a small radio turned on just loud enough for him to hear it and
listen to
a ball game which was in progress. The three of us watched the movie
and Mr.
Ahern reported the progress of the game a couple of times. He then
either
turned the game off or it had terminated and he came over to sit and
watch
television with us.My wife and I were
sitting quite close in one chair and that is the last time I recall her
in a
relatively normal state, clearly.Mrs.
Ahern seemed to be stimulated by our apparent affection and she sat on
Mr. Ahern's
lap for a short while.

Some time within the next few minutes, my wife moved to the
chair I next to me
because the cramped
position as a result of the two of us in the chair, she said strained
her back.
Mrs. Ahern also moved either before or after that. We chatted as the
program
progressed and I became tired, relatively drowsy. I moved to the couch
in the
living room, situated on the west wall of the staircase and the east
wall of the
L portion of the living room which protrudes to the road.I lay down with my head toward the television
in a prone position, holding my head and watching television. The
television is
on the north side of the room. My head was nearer the television set
than my
feet. It was toward the television set. There may have been a pilled
helping to
hold my head. I evidently because very drowsy and fell asleep. I recall
wearing
summer cord trousers, a white T shirt moccasin type loafers with no
shoe
strings, I am not sure of' the socks. I don't know whether I had
removed my
brown corduroy coat that I had put on earlier, or whether I did at this
time or
not. The next thing that I recall very hazily, my wife partially awoke
me in
some manner and I think she notified me that she was going to bed.

I eventually continued to sleep. The next thing I recall
was hearing her cry out or scream. At this time I was on the couch. I
think
that she cried or screamed my name once or twice, during which time I
ran
upstairs, thinking that she might be having a reaction similar to
convulsions
that she had had in the early days of her pregnancy. I
charged into our room and saw a form with a
light garment, I believe.

At the same time grappling with something or someone. During
this short period I could hear loud moans or groaning sounds and
noises. I was
struck down. It seems
like I was hit from
behind somehow but had I grappled this individual from in front or
generally in
front of me. I was apparently knocked out. The next thing I know I was
gathering my senses while coming to a sitting position next to the bed,
my feet
toward the hallway.

In the dim light I began to come to my
senses and
recognized a slight reflection on a badge that I have on my wallet. I
picked up
the wallet and while putting it in my pocket, came to the realization
that I
had been struck and something was wrong. I looked
at my wife, I believe I took her pulse and felt that she was gone. I
believe
that I thereafter instinctively or sub­consciously ran into my
youngster's room
next door and somehow determined that he was all right, I am not sure
how I
determined this. After that, I thought that I heard a noise downstairs,
seemingly in the front eastern portion of the house. I went down stairs
as rapidly
as I could, coming down the west division of the steps, I rounded the L
of the
living room and went toward the dining table situated on the East wall
of the
long front room on the lake side. I then saw a form progressing rapidly
somewhere between the front door toward the lake and the screen door,
or
possibly slightly beyond the screen door. I pursued this form through
the front
door, over the porch and out the screen door. All of the doors were
evidently
open, down the steps to the beach house landing and then on down the
steps to the
beach, where I lunged or jumped and grapped him in sane manner from the
back,
either body or leg, it was something solid. However, I am not sure. This was beyond too steps an unknown distance
but probably about ten feet. I had the feeling of twisting or choking
and this
terminated my consciousness.

The next thing I know I came to a very groggy
recollection or being at the water's edge on my face, being wallowed
back and
forth by the waves. My head was toward the bank, my legs and feet weretoward the water. I staggered to
my feet and came slowly
to some sort of sense. I don't know how long it took but I staggered up
the
stairs toward the house and at some time came to the realization that
something
was wrong and that my wife had been injured. I went back upstairs and
looked at my wife and
felt her
and checked for
a pulse on her neck and determined or thought that she was gone. I
became or
thought that I wasdisoriented
and the victim of a bizarre dream and I believe I paced in and out of
the room
and possibly into one of the other rooms. I may have reexamined her,
finally
realizing that this was true. I went
downstairs; I believe I went through the kitchen into my study,
searching for a
name, a number or what to do. A number came to me and I called,
believing that this
number was Mr. Houk's.I don't remember
what
I said to Mr. Houk. He and his wife arrived there shortly thereafter. During this period
I paced back and forth somewhere in the house, relatively disoriented,
not knowing
what to do or where to turn. I think
that I was seated at the
kitchen table
with my head on the table when they arrived but I may have gone into
the den. I
went into the den asI
recall,
either before or shortly after they arrived. The injury to my neck is
the only
severe pain that I can recall. I should say the discomfort in my neck. I didn't touch the back door on
the road side to
my recollection. Shortly after the Houks arrived, one of them poured
half a
glass of whisky as they knew where we kept a small supply of liquor and
told me
to drink it. I refused, since I was so groggy anyway, I was trying to
recover
my senses. I soon lay down on the floor. Mr. Houk and Mrs. Houk went
upstairs,
I am not sure of their actions. Mr. Houk called the police and the
ambulance;
this is in my recollection, and also my
brother Richard. I am pretty sure that Mr. Houk called the police
station from my
study because he said "bring an ambulance"- correction - he referred
to the need of an ambulance and maybe two. He also called my brother
Richard. I
remember my brother, Dr. Richard, speaking with me for a moment and
looking at me.
I believe Officer Drohnken spoke to me and asked how I had been
injured. I
can't recall my reply for sure. Soon thereafter I was on the floor
trying to give
my neck and head some support, when Dr. Stephen Sheppard examined me
some time
thereafter. Dr. Stephen Sheppard assisted me to his car, which I think
was his
station wagon, which as I recall, was just behind the Bay Village
ambulance. I remember no other
specific vehicles. I was transported to Bay View hospital.

I related some of the incidents to mayor Houk and one or more
of the Bay Village
police officers. Later in the morning I was questioned by Dr. Gerber
and at
another time by two officers of the Cleveland Police Department,
Officers
Schottke and Gareau.Later, I believe,
later in the day, I wasagain
interviewed by Officers Schottke and Gareau the presence of Chief Baton
of the Bay
Village Police Department.At this time
I was asked to explain some things that I had no explanation for. I was
shown a
green bag; a green cloth bag looked like heavy cloth. I thought it was
eight or
ten inches long and five inches wide. I was asked to identify it. It
looked to
me like a bag that is used to carry motor boat tools. This was similar
to the bag,
if not the same bag, that accompanied my Johnson outboard motor vehicle
I
purchased it. I was also shown awatch that I identified as mine and questioned why there was
blood on the band
and crystal and why it had been found in this bag with some other
articles in
the weeds behind my house
on the bank. I
am not sure but I believe Officer Schottke said that there was also aring and keychain, also in the bag but I don’t believe that
he showed methese
articles. I told him, as I recall,
that I had attended
stock car races two or three days previously with my wife, Otto Graham
and his
wife and I didn’t mention the children as I recall and was caught in a
drenching rain, at which time I wore no coat or jacket but I don't
think I
explained this at that particular time. I since recall having
inadvertently
this at that particular time. I since recall having inadvertently
water-skied with
my watch on in the past few days and had noticed a great deal of
moisture in the
crystal. I had commented on this to my wife and some other people, I am
not
sure who. My wife planned to take the watch to Halle Brothers in the
near future
where she had purchased it.

A: I was subjected to a period of questioning, all of
which I can’t recall at this time but was reminded of this morning and
then the
officers left.

Q: How long had you known your wife Marilyn?

A: Since we were in Junior High School, approximately
fifteen years, or slightly more, in 1937 or 1938.

Q: From the time you met her until you were married, did
you see one another quite frequently?

A: I would say yes, however, there was a period when she
entered high school that I remained in Junior High School, that we saw
each
other very seldom for being sweethearts. In other words, we were not
going
together but still givingeach
other and liked each other…

Q: When did you first begin to keep steady company with
her?

A: When we were in Junior High School, when
she was
in the ninth grade and I was in the eighth grade. She was a year and a
half ahead
of me in school. We had a
so-called affair which, as I say, became inactive
when she went to high school, but was revived when I reached high
school and was
able to assert myself. This continued throughout high school. She as I
saw, wasa mid-year
but; she took extra courses in order to stay in high school until June
of 1941.
Some time during my sophomore year, I had joined a fraternity and Hi-Y
and I offered
her my Hi-Y pill and eventually my fraternity pin, which at that time
signified
going steady. During the following spring and summer she displayed the
intent
to have dates with other fellows. She wasstaying
with her grandparents out at Mentor-on-the Lake.
Early in the fall the following year, which was 1941, we resumed our
former
relationship. The following year I wasa junior in high school and she went
to SkidmoreCollege.
From that time on we considered
ourselves engaged although it was not publicly announced und the
fraternity pin
was the only representation of this fact. This was a high school
fraternity but
a national organization and part of the laws of the fraternity insisted
that
only mothers, sisters and engaged sweethearts should wear the pin other
than
the active member himself. My freshman year in college, I joined a national
college fraternity and she got that fraternity pin as soon as it was
available.

Q: When and where were you married?

A: In 1945, I believe, February 21st, in Hollywood,
California, FirstMethodistChurch.

Q. Where did you take up residence after you were married?

A.In
a small apartment
on Sichel Street
in Los Angeles.

Q. How
long did
you live there?

A. We
lived there on that same street until the spring of 1951.

Q: During the time that you
lived in California,
did you and your wife, Marilyn have a misunderstanding whereby either
one of
you thought it best to part or separate?

A:
During and following my wife's pregnancy up to
approximately two years following the birth of the youngster, my wife
became
quite jealous. This was consistent with the termination of my didactic
school
work and the initiation of my work as a physician, which included
contact with many women, both
patients and fellowworkers.
This jealous reaction improved steadily
until she became seemingly much more tolerant than I would consider the
average
female to be.

Q:
Did she ever consult an attorney in reference to your
domestic difficulties?

A. Not
that I knowof.

Q:
Is it true that some members of your family communicated
with her, asking her to be tolerant and reconsider her action?

A:
Not that I know of, but I think that some members of
her family, however, may have.

Q:
Since your removal to the State of Ohio, what has been your home life?

A:
Well, I considered it to be ideal in that she seemed
to make it her business to be agreeable, tolerant and I should say,
livable. Forever,
there were times when this little jealous streak would show up but I
would always
reassure her and she seemed to need no further support.

Q: Did she ever directly or indirectly
accuse you of having
an affair with someone else?

A:
She indirectly may have in questioning me about my whereabouts
at various times and in the form of reassurance I often took her with
me, when
possible on visits to nearby cities oreven the hospital.

Q:
How would these inferences affect you?

A: Well they affected me in the direction of reassuring
her what seemed to satisfy her and thereby produce a reversed action, whereby she would encourage me
to be friendly with other women at social gatherings whereas at other
times she
might have resented the same action which she had encouraged before.

Q: Is it true, Doctor, that on
several occasions when you were discussing your marital troubles, that
you flew
into a rage?

A:
Absolutely not, never.

Q:
Did you ever have an affair with a Sue Hayes?

A: I
wouldn't call it an affair but we have been good
friends for some time, which was known to my wife.

Q:
Had she been employed at BayviewHospital?

A: Yes.
I don't know the exact dates. She was employed there when I initiated
my work
at the hospital and she terminated her work there some time last winter
or
early spring in 1953. She
returned some
time later in that year and terminated her work again at the hospital
some time
early in 1954. She went
to California.

Q: In
what capacity was she employed at the hospital?

A:
Laboratory technician.

Q:
While at work you had considerable contact with her
didn't you?

A: Yes.

Q: To
what extent?

A: She did a great deal of the technical laboratory work
on all of the doctors' patients in the hospital and was the only
technician
practically that readily answered emergency calls on accidents or
emergency surgical
cases. I might alsoadd
that she
was considered during her stay one of the authorities when special work
was necessary.

Q: Is
it true that you socialized a lot with her?

A: In the hospital, yes. I wouldn't call it socialized. We
talked we became good friends.

Q:
Nothing more than good friends?

A:
No.

Q: What was the occasion for you purchasing awrist watch for her?

A: She was in California
at the time. I was there in March of 1954 and I had asked her with some
of her friends to accompany me with a group of doctors and wives to a
dinner,
at which time or during the evening she lost her wrist watch. I paid
the check
for the dinner which, incidentally amounted to more than the wrist
watch was
worth and knowing this she could not afford to purchase another one, I
purchased one for her which was consistent with the one that she had
lost, in
price range.

Q: Did your wife Marilyn know that you were contemplating
purchasing this wrist watch ordid she know immediately thereafter?

A: My wife didn't
know of this until
in casually discussing the trip some time during our trip home, that
is, me and
my wife, or after we had reached home shortly, at which time she became
some what
upset, failing to
understand the intent. I wish to add, I
told her of this voluntarily.

Q. Do you own a Jaguar Sport car?

A:
Yes.

Q: Where did you purchase it?

A: I purchased it from M.G. Motors,
which
was at that time located on Lorain Road and has since been
moved to Detroit Road.

Q:Do you recall the salesmanname that
negotiated the transaction?

A.:The only real salesman is the boss and that is
Mr. Robert
Lossman.

Q:Did you have occasion to meet
his wife, Julle Lossman?

A:
I took care of her as a patient about a year and a half ago when they
were
involved in an accident.

Q: Did youbecome very well
acquainted with her?

A: As adoctor-patient
relationship, yes.

Q: Now, is it true that a very close
friendship resulted from this meeting?

A: I would say a close friendship with
both the husband and the wife.

Q: Isn't it a fact that it developed
into a love affair?

A.
No, not on my part certainly.

Q:Of your ownknowledge, do
you know whether or not there had been a discussion
between Mrs. Lossman and her
husband and you and your wife Marilyn that there had been such an
affair
existing between you and Mrs. Lossman?

A: That is difficult
to answer. Mywife and I were present at a time when
Mr. Lossman and his wife discussed some of their marital problems. He at this time did mention the belief that
she had shown particular like to me. We merely attempted to act as
referees, my
wifeand I.

Q. How did this affect your wife Marilyn?

A: She thereafter
felt that it would
be best that we not arrange frequent social affairs with the Lossman's
and I
agreed.

Q: How long ago was it that you
decided
not to see the Lossman's so frequently?

A. That was last summer in 1953 after
the middle of the summer.

Q: Isn't it a fact that you have
contacted Mrs. Lossman by telephone since then?

A: I never contacted Mrs. Lossman by
telephone. She contacted me always in regard to some medical problem in
regard
to her little girl or herself. I saw Mr. Lossman frequently at the car
agency and
I saw them both infrequently at gatherings of the Sports Car Club,
which is itclub that I
am
not very active in but attend functions of occasionally here in the
city.

Q: Isn't it a fact that you dated
Julle Lossman on several occasions?

A: Absolutely not. I know there was
some
rumor to that effect but it is not true.

Q: Did your wife Marilyn know of this
rumor?

A: Yes.

Q: How did it affect her?

A: She made it known to me and I
reassured her and agreed that we should minimize our social contacts
with the Lossman's
and that was all there was to it. She had no particular objections as
long as
we kept it on a very infrequent basis.

Q: Since this agreement with Marilyn
about the contacts with the Lossman's, did your wife Marilyn show any
coldness
toward you?

A: No.

Q: Your home life was
like an average
normal couple's, had no bickerings or any petty quarrels?

A: No, because she respected my
decisions on all matters.

Q: Directing your attention to the
night of July 3d, 1954, at which time your wife was murdered, are you
directly
or indirectly involved in this crime?

A:
Absolutely not.

Q:
Do youknow
of any reason why someone else
would take her life?

A:
Possibly.

Q:
Will you state the possibility?

A. Well, I don't know but I have
heard of individuals who are maniac enough that when they start
something, an
act like that, it becomes a compulsion, a means of satisfaction like
the ordinary
man has from an orgasm or something of that nature. She has spurned
lovers,
potential lovers.

Q. How many of those potential lovers
did she have?

A:
Three that I know of and I am
pretty sure, more. I am certain that there wore more.

Q: Have
you told the police about these three and revealed their identity?

A. Yes.

Q: The night of July 3rd,
1954, when you reached the top of the stairs, after you heard Marilyn's
outcries, you say you saw someone standing beside the bed occupied by
your
wife, were they standing or stooping over the bed?

A: I don't recall seeing anything from the head of the
stairs, it happened so rapidly, it must have been when I entered the
room and I
don'tknow whether they
were
standing or stopping.

Q: Immediately
upon entering this room, did you have an opportunity to make some
examination
of your wife?

A: No.

Q: Why?

A: Because as I told you, I
seemed to be immediately
engaged in grappling, with someone.

Q: Do you know what portion
of the body of this person
you were grappling with that you had hold of?

A: I
don't recall holding any portion of the body in the bedroom.

Q: You stated that you were
assaulted from behind when
you entered the room or immediately thereafter?

A: I felt
that I was engaged from a direction somewhere within 180 degrees in
front of me and you seemingly were struck from behind as I stated above.

By
Detective Robert Schottke:

Q: At the
time you were assaulted on the beach, what was the condition as to
light or darkness?

A: As I related before to Mr. Rossbach, it was just lighter
than dark, it was not as dark as darkest night. There was a light
seemingly
starting, about the best way I can put it, as though daylight was just
barely
beginning.

Q: At the time when you and this man were tussling or
fighting
on the beach, about how many feet of beach was there?

A: I don't know.

Q: At the
time when you were fighting with this man, could you feel any water in
which
you were fighting?

A: I
can't say for sure but it seemed like the bench was firm, as though it
had been
washed over and packed somewhat.

Q: At the
time when you woke up, will you explain your position on the beach as
to this
retaining wall, how many feet you were from this retaining wall?

A: I don't know, I can't say,
but I think I can say that I was between the easterly and of that
retaining
wall and the steps, but I cannot say how far I was north-south wise.

Q: At the time when you woke up on the beach, will you
tell us as to the condition of the wind and the waves?

A: It seemed
that it was somewhat windy and
the waves were moderately high. I’ll saytoo high to
water ski and not too high to fish, not real high but moderately high.

Q: Is there
anything else that you can tell us about this, Doctor?

A: Not that I can think of now. I wanted to say that I have
come here of my ownfree
will to help you in every way that I can to solve this tragedy and I
hope that you
will give me the opportunity to give you any additional information
when and if
I shall be able to remember it or find it.

Q: Have
you been treated fairly during the course of this questioning?